One of delights of living where we do in France is the availability of wild mushrooms. Our village has a well-deserved reputation.
The King of Mushrooms (other than Truffles) is the Cepe (Boletus Edulis). Its taste is such that mushroom hunters become obsessed. Locations are carefully guarded, and competition is fierce.
Exceptional harvests can always be preserved. They freeze well, and can be bottled in either oil or water; I prefer 'water', as in a recipe given to me by my Vigneronne.
As such I have never had to actually BUY Cepes, either fresh or preserved. But this Christmas I was given a tin of Cepes in oil (above); something I had never tried before.
Well, I was very pleasantly surprised. The texture was certainly different, but the full flavour was still there.
After this upcoming Summer, one of the things on my 'To Bring Back' list will certainly be a few of these tins.
Kimbo also gave me a jar of Girolles (Chanterelles), but I'm not expecting them to be quite as good. There is no question that the taste will be there, but I've always found that preserving Girolles never really works.
Watch this space... I shall report back!
NB. The Co that cans these mushrooms is called Laguilhon, and their products are always sold in their distinctive yellow packs/tins/etc. They are makers of all of the local specialities, and if you are in the S W France, area and thinking of taking back a few treats, I can recommend everything they produce. I have never been disappointed!
Yum! It's not often here you get a mushroom, in the supermarket, with that real mushroomy taste. Tinned ones are usually tasteless bits of watery sponge.
ReplyDeleteI know how you love your mushrooms and so obviously does Kimbo. Great cooking!
The only mushrooms we don't bother to pick are the standard white one's that they sell in all supermarkets. They look lovely, but have little flavour.
DeleteI can recall as a child searching for mushrooms in Wales but the best I ever tasted were in the forest round Berlin. If you found something you were not sure about you could take it to the local pharmacy and they would confirm its edibility (or otherwise).
ReplyDeleteThat's the same in France. I wonder what they'd say in the UK?
Delete"Our insurance doesn't cover us for giving advice of that sort."
ReplyDeleteMore than likely!!!
DeleteThis blogpost was sponsored and approved by Laguilhon, France.
ReplyDelete(Other visitors should note that Monsieur Magnon is one of the leading shareholders in Laguilhon. Dividends from that company help to fund his lavish lifestyle).
I wish I was; I could take home 'samples'. I like to give praise where praise is due. I'm just as quick to criticise too!
DeleteWhen we stayed in Provence, the local SuperU had a section of local specialties, what a joy.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite Provencal speciality is Tapenade (the dark one). I make my own, as it's not really available here.
DeleteDo you find this particular mushroom when you are hunting for mushrooms in France?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds excellent and I'd imagine it would be even better freshly harvested and cooked.
Yes, they are our main Mushroom Target. If you type 'Cepe' into the white search strip, top left, you will probably find several photos of my own finds.
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